US to retain sanctions on Libya: Bush

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Tuesday, January 06, 2004

US to retain sanctions on Libya: Bush

US President George W. Bush has decided to retain sanctions on Libya despite Tripoli's public renouncement of its weapons of mass destruction (WMD) programs.

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US President George W. Bush has decided to retain sanctions on Libya despite Tripoli's public renouncement of its weapons of mass destruction (WMD) programs.

"Although there have been some positive developments, the crisis between the United States and Libya that led to the declaration of a national emergency has not been fully resolved," Bush said in a letter to Congress released Monday during his trip to St. Louis, Missouri.

In 1986, former US President Ronald Reagan issued a declarationof national emergency when the United States accused Libya of sponsoring terrorism. Bush said "it is necessary to continue the emergency."

"As Libya takes tangible steps to address those concerns, the United States will in turn take reciprocal tangible steps to recognize Libya's progress," he added.

State Department spokesman Adam Ereli said Friday that the United States would not remove sanctions imposed on Libya until Tripoli fulfilled its commitments to sever any connection with terrorism and dismantle its WMD programs.

"We've made it clear that as Libya moves forward in fulfilling its commitments to divorce itself from any connection to terrorismand to abjure and dismantle its WMD programs, we would be willing to discuss bilateral relations," Ereli said, stressing the opportunity has not yet arrived.

The spokesman was responding to remarks made by Libyan Prime Minister Shukri Ghanim in an interview in Tripoli with The New York Times on New Year's Day.

Ghanim said in the interview that the United States should act quickly to reward his country for abandoning its secret weapons programs.

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